Maneuvering or steering of ships and other vessels



J. H. W. GILL MANEUVERING OR STEERING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS FiledNov. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet.l

w 5 i M J H A f, K w w 0 IN VENTOR J. H. W. GILL MANEUVERING OR STEERINGOF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS Filed Nov. 12, 1923. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2/IVI/EIVTOR Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNETZF. ST

JAMES HERBERT ISTERED COMPANY OF ENGLAND.

FICE

ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB T0 GILL NORFOLK, ENGLAND, A REG- MANEUVERING ORSTEERING 0F SHIPS AND OTHER -"iTESSELS.

Application filed November 12, 1923. Serial Nov 674,327.

To all whomz't may COW/067%.

Be it known that I, JAMnsl-lnRnnnr VVAIN- wnreI-rr GILL, subject of theKing of England, and residing at Heacham, Norfolk, in England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Maneuvering orSteering of Ships and other Vessels, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the propulsion, maneuvering of steering ofships and other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, and hasmore particular reference to apparatus in which a discharge stream isdelivered through a rotary valve or nozzle disposed at the outlet end ofthe discharge pipe. In a known arrangement, also devised by the presentinventor, such a valve is rotatably mounted within the enlarged end of adownwardly directed discharge passage from a pump, the discharge streambeing deflected from the vertical direction of entry to the valve intoan approximately horizontal direction of discharge therefrom. In thesmaller sizes of hydraulic propelling plant this valve does not requireany objectionable projection of the valve lip beyond the skin of thevessel, but in larger installations the retention of reasonabledimensions of valve involves the employment of an outlet lip whoseprojection beyond the skin of the vessel, although relatively small, isopen to 0bjection on the score of fouling obstructions when operating inextremely shallow water. For instance, in the case of an 18 inchdischarge pipe diameter at entry to the valve and a discharge streamdeflected to about 26 below the horizontal, the overall diameter of thevalve body being limited to 30 inches, the projection of the valveoutlet lip amounts to 8 inches, which may be sufiicient to cause foulingof obstructions in very shallow water.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improvedpropulsive, steering or maneuvering apparatus of the type indicatedwhich is not subject to this disadvantage and will enable the outboardprojection to be eliminated or reduced to a very small amount.

ln the apparatus according to this invention the valve or nozzle, whichis rotatably d 'iosed in the enlarged end of a pump dis z-narge passageand has a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge streaminto a horizontal or approximately horizontal direction, is providedwith one or more vanes mounted within the outlet passage and so shapedas to assist the deflection of the discharge stream into the desireddirection. Conveniently the guide vanes are curved and of varyingthickness and are disposed parallel to one another within the outletpassage so as to extend from side to side thereof, the shape andthickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressiveincrease in velocity with a minimum loss of head. to the dischargestream flowing between them. The valve is preferably supported on avertical spindle centrally disposed within the aumo dischar e aassa ethe thrust due to the l a a: a

reaction being taken up by thrust rollers mounted within the enlargedend of the discharge passage and adapted to engage with a flange on thevalve. In some cases these rollers may also be employed to support theweight of the valve, and with this arrange ment the vertical spindle maybe dispensed with, if desired, the rotation of the valve being effectedby means of a pinion engaging with a toothed ring mounted on the valvebody. The arrangement may be such that the whole valve is removablewithout dismantling the discharge passage.

An axial flow pump is preferably employed having its intake opening inthe bottom or other outside wall of the vessel, and the dischargepassage from the pump is curved and has an enlarged outlet end withinwhich is disposed the rotary valve or nozzle. Conveniently two casingsor wells are provided, which are so disposed in the vessel that theirlower ends open through the bottom or other outside wall of the vessel,one of these wells containing the axial flow pump whilst the othercontains the rotary valve. The discharge passage preferably connects thetwo wells and is so shaped as to offer minimum resistance to the flow ofthe discharge stream from the pump to the valve within the limits ofspace available.

The weight of the valve body may be sup ported by means of a transversebridge piece mounted on the cover plate of the well, or alternatively itmay be supported on an external bearing on the upper side of the curveddischarge passage.

The axial flow pump employed is preferably of the type described in thespecification accompanying the present applicants prior application forUnited States of America Letters Patent Serial No. 653,758, filed 25thJuly, 1923.

This pump consists of a rotary impeller having a shroud mounted on thetips of the blades, and two sets of fixed guide vanes disposedrespectively on the inlet and outlet sides of the impeller. The guidevanes are mounted within fixed shrouding rings, and the shape of theparts of the whole pump is such that a uniform progressive increase inthe dynamical equivalent of head is given to the fluid stream flowingthrough the guide vanes and the impeller, i. e. such that there is aconstant rate of increase in the square of the velocity of flow of thisstream.

The. invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but apreferred construction is illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section throughthe rotary valve.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the valve body, and

Figure 3 shows the general arrangement of the pump, the valve and thedischarge passage.

In this construction two similar wells A. and B are mounted with theirlower ends opening through the bottom of the vessel, and containrespectively an axial flow pump and a rotary maneuverin valve D. Theupper ends of the wells A are connected together by means of a curvedpump dis charge passage E which is in the form of a siphon pipe, theends of this pipe adjaent to the wells being substantially vertical. Onits upper side this pipe'E is provided with two mountings F G servingrespectively for the pump spindle Hand for the valve spindle J, thesemountings being disposed vertically above the centres of the two wells AB and being provided with water-tight packing glands F and G.

The axial flow pump C is of the type described in the prior applicationreferred to above and consists of a suitably shaped shrouded impeller Kmounted on the pump spindle H near its end so as to rotate between twosets of fixed guide vanes L and M. The guide vanes L on the inlet sideare disposed at the lower end of the well and serve to guide theincoming water to the rotary impeller K. The guide vanes M on the outletside guide the discharge stream from the impeller K into an axialdirection, and deliver this stream into the siphon pipe E, through whichit flows to the maneuvering valve D, the. siphon pipe being so shaped asto offer minimum resistance to the flow of the stream within the limitsof space available. In some cases it may be desirable to give the siphonpipe E a slight taper from the pump C to the valve D.

The outlet end of the siphon pipe E is secured to a cover plate B on theupper end of the well B containing the rotary maneuvering valve D, sothat the well B in efi'ect forms an enlargement of the discharge pipe E.The valve consists of a hollow body D Whose internal shape graduallychanges at its upper end N from a circular opening of the same diameteras the end of the siphon pipe E to an approximately square orrectangular prism forming the lower portion 0 of the valve. Gutside theneck or upper portion N of the hollow valve body is a flange N having amachined surface which engages with thrust rollers P carried beneath thecover plate B of the Well, these rollers serving to centre the valve andalso tov take the thrust of the discharge reaction and to act as anantifriction bearing.

The valve body D is fixed toa vertical spindle J, which as stated abovepasses through a mounting G on the upper side of the siphon pipe Thisspindle J may be supported by means of a collar Q on a transverse bridgepiece Q, of streamline section mounted on the cover plate B of the well-(see Figure 3), but ispreferably carried by means of a collar R on athrust hearing R on the external mounting (i on the siphon pipe E. Therotation of the spindle J is efliected by means of suitable steeringgear in the vessel, such for example as a tiller S mounted on the upperend of the valve spindle.

Within the valve'body D are mounted a number of guide vanes T which aredisposed parallel to one another and extend across from side to side ofthe valve body. These vanes T resemble the guide vanes of a turbine inshape and arrangement, and

they receive'the out-flowing water in the direction of approach anddeflect it into the required direction of discharge. The vanes have alsosuch varying shape and thickness that the change of sectional area inthe passages between them is such that the discharge stream isaccelerated from the velocity of entry into the vanesto the velocity ofdischarge therefrom in such a manner to minimize inequalities of flowand loss of head. The vanes T may be strengthened by means of a centralWeb T which will also serve as connecting means between thevalve body Dand the spindle J. At the lower end of the outside of the valve body Dare mounted one or more circular flanges U extending to within workingclearance distance from the inner surface of the cylindrical well B,these flanges U together with a labyrinth joint at the top of the valvebody being so arranged'as to minimize leakage between the valve body Dand the well B.

The provision of guide vanes T has the advantage 0t reducing eddy lossesto a minimum, and these losses are often considerable when, in thepresent case, different accelerations have to be given to ditierentportions of a fluid stream. These vanes T thus enable the outboardprojection 01 the valve body D to be reduced to a very small amount andin some cases to be eliniinated altogether. The particular con structiondescribed has also the advantage that the whole valve body D isremovable in a simple manner, trom the well B, with out the necessity ofdismounting the Well itself.

The thrust rollers P which serve to centre the valve in the well areconveniently mounted. on crank-shaped or eccentrically stepped pins Pcarried in the cover plate B of the well B. This arrangement permits anadjustment of the positions of the thrust rollers P by rotating the pinsP.

It has been found convenient in some cases to arrange the two wells Aand B, containing the pump C and the rotary 'alve l), athwartships, oneon each side of the heel of. the vessel, but other arrangements may beemployed as desired.

The present invention thus provides meai'is whereby a vessel may becon'ipletely controlled by the reaction ellect ot the discharge stream.The apparatus according to the invention also provides an etticiontsteering: and maneuvering gear which may be employed in vessels whereother main propulsive apparatus is installed.

It Will be understood that the particular construction described hasbeen given by way of example only, and the construction and ar angementof parts may be varied without departing from the scope of theinvention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of shipsand other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combinationor a pump, a discharge passage therefrom having an outlet end openingthrough the wall of the vessel, a valve r0 1; ably disposed in theenlarged end of the discharge passage and having a curved outlet passageadapted to del'lect the discharge stream into an approximatelyhorizontal direction, and means for rotating the valve, the body of thevalve having a cross-section which varies from circular term at theinlet end to an approximately rectangular form at the outlet end.

2. ln apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships andother ves sels by the reaction etlect of water jets, the combination ofan axial flow pump, a discharge passage theretrom, a Well so disposedwithin the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of thevessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, avalve rotatably disposed in the Well and having a curved outlet passageadapted to deflect the discharge stream into an ap proxin'iatelyhorizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, and a number ofcurved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one anotherwithin the outlet passage in the valve and extending from side to sidethereof, the shape and thickness ol" the guide vanes being such as togive a progressive increase in velocity With a minimum loss of head tothe discharge stream flowing between them, the body of the valve havinga cross-section which varies from circular form at the inlet end to anapproximately rectangular form at the outlet end.

3. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships andother vessels by the reaction etlect of water jets, the combination of apump, a discharge passage therefrom having an enlarged outlet endopening through the wall of the vessel. a valve rotatably disposed inthe enlarged end of the discharge passage and having a curved outletpassage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximatelyhorizontal direction, means t-orrotating the valve, and a number ofcurved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one anotherwithin the out-let passage in the valve and extending from side to sidethereof, the shape and thickness ot the guide vanes being such as togive a progressive increase in velocity With a minimum loss of head tothe discharge stream flowing between them.

4. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships andother ves sels by the reaction eliect of water jets, the combination ofan axial flow pump, a discharge passage theretrom, av well. so disposedWithin the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of thevessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, avalve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passageadapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontaldirection. n'ieans for rotating the alve, and at least one guide vanemounted within the outlet passage in the valve and so shaped as toassist the deflection of the discharge stream into the desireddirection.

1n apparatus tor the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships andother vessels by the reaction eliect of water jets, the combination of apump, a discharge passage theret'ron'i having an enlarged outlet endopening through the wall. of the vessel. a valve rotatably disposed inthe enlarged cnd ot the discharge passage and having a curved outletpassage adapted to detlect the discharge mam into an approximatelyhorizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, an external flangeon the valve, thrust rollers rotatably mounted in the enlarged end ofthe discharge passage and adapted to engage with the flange on thevalve, and

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guide vanes mounted within the outlet passage in the valve and so shapedas to assist the deflection of the discharge stream into the desireddirection.

6. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships andother ves sels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combination ofa pump, a discharge passage therefrom, awell so disposed Within thevessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel andconstituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valverotata-bly disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passageadapted to deflect the discharge stream into an ap proximatelyhorizontal direction, a vertical spindle centrally disposed within thepump discharge passage and serving to support the valve, means forrotating the spindle and the valve carried thereby, and at least oneguide vane mounted within the outlet passage in the valve and so shapedas to assist the deflection of the discharge stream into the desireddirection.

7. In apparatus for the propulsion,steer-' ing or maneuvering of shipsand other vessels by the reaction ell'ect of water jets, the combinationof an axial flow pump, a dis charge passage therefrom, a well sodisposed within the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall ofthe vessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the dischargepipe, a valve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outletpassage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximatelyhorizontal direction, a vertical spindle centrally disposed within thepump discharge passage and serving to support the valve, means forrotating the spindle and the valve carried thereby, an external flangeon the valve, and thrust rollers rotatably mounted in the well andadapted to engage with the flange on the valve.

8. In apparatus for the propulsion, steer ing or maneuvering of shipsand other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combinationof an axial flow pump, a discharge passage therefrom, a well so disposedwithin the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of thevessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, avalve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passageadapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontaldirection, a vertical spindle centrally disposed within the pumpdischarge passage and serving to support the valve, means for rotatingthe spindle and the valve carried thereby, and a number of curved guidevanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one another within theoutlet passage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof, theshape and thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give aprogressive increase in velocity wit-h a minimum loss of head to thedischarge stream flowing between them.

9. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships andother vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combination of apump, a, discharge passage therefrom, a well so disposed within thevessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel andconstituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valverotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passageadaptedto deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontaldirection, a vertical spindle centrally disposed within the pumpdischarge passage and serving to support the valve, means for rotatingthe spindle and the valve carried thereby, an external flange on thevalve, thrust rollers rotatably mounted in the well and adapted toengage with the flange on the valve, and av number of curved guide vanesof varying thickness disposed. parallel to one another within the outletpassage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shapeand thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressiveincrease in velocity with a Ii'lillill'iulll loss of head to thedischarge stream flowing between them.

10. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of shipsand other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combinationof an axial flow pump, a discharge passage therefrom, a well so disposedwithin the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of thevessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, avalve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passageadapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontaldirection, means for rotating the valve, an external flange on thevalve, thrust rollers rotatably mounted in the well and adapted toengage with the flange on the valve, and a number of curved guide vanesof varying thickness disposed parallel to one another withinthe outletpassage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shapeand thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressiveincrease in velocity with a minimum loss of head to the discharge streamflowing between them.

11. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of shipsand other vessels by the reaction effect oi water jets, the combinationof two wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends openthrough the wall of the vessel, a pump mounted in one of the wells, acurved pump discharge passage connecting the two Wells.

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a valve rotatahly disposed in the other well. and having a curved outletpassage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approxinmtel vhorizontal direction, and means for rotating the valve.

12. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of shipsand other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combinationof two wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends openthrough the wall of the vessel, and axial flow pump mounted in one ofthe wells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two .vells andso shaped as to offer minimum resist ance to the flow of the dischargestream, a valve rotatably disposed in the other well and having a curvedoutlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into anapproximately horizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, and atleast one guide vane mounted within the outlet passage in the valve andso shaped as to assist the deflection ot the discharge stream into thedesired direction.

1 in apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships andother vesby the reaction elfect of water jets, the combination of twowells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends open throughthe wall oi the vessel, an axial flow pump mounted in one of the wells,a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two wells. a valverotatahly disposed in the other well and. having a curved outlet passageadapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontaldirection, means for rotating the valve, and a number of curved guidevanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one another within theoutlet passage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof. theshape and thickness of the hide vanes being such as to give a prorivcswe increase in velocity with a minimum loss head to the discharge streamFlowing hetween them.

l t. in apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of shipsand other ves sels by the reaction effect of water jets, theon'ilfntnition of two wells so disposed within the vessel'that theirlower ends open through the wall of the vessel, a pump mounted in one ofthe wells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two wells, avalve rotatablv disposed in the other well and having a curved outletpassage adapted to defleet the discharge stream into an approximatelyhorizontal direction, two vertical spindles rotatably mounted in thedischarge passage and serving respectively as the Jump driving spindleand as a supporting spindle for the valve, and means for rotating thevalve spindle and the valve carried thereby.

15. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of shipsand other vesreaction eliect oli water jets, the

0 wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends open throughthe wall ol the vessel, an axial flow pump mounted in one of the wells,a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two wells, a valverotatahlv disposed in the other well and having a crn'vod outlet passageadapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontaldirection, two vertical spindles rotatahlv mounted in the dis chargepassage and serving respectively as the pump driving spindle and as asupporting spindle for the valve, a thrust hearing mounted on the upperside of the discharge pass go and serving to support the weight of thevalve spindle and the valve carried therehv, means for rotating thevalve spindle, and

sels l) the comlnuatron oi tw a number oil curved guide vanes of varyingthiel-Lness disposed parallel to one another within. the outlet passagein the valve and extending "from side to side thereof, the shape andthickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressiveincrease in veloei'l with a minimum loss of head to the discharge streamflowing between them.

In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships andother vesscis h the reaction effect of water jets, the comhimition oftwo wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends openthrough the wall of the vessel, an axial flow pump mounted in one of thewells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two wells and soshaped. as to o'lter minimum resistance to the flow of the dischargestream, a valve rotatahlv disposed in the other well and having a curvedoutlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into anapproximately horizontal direction, and means for rotating the valve,the axial flow pump comprising a rotary impeller, a shroud mounted onthe. tips of the blades of the impeller, two fixed sln'ouding ringsdisposed one on either side of the impeller shroud, and fixed guidevanes mounted within each shrouding ring, the shape ot the parts of thewhole pump being such that a uniform progressive increase in thedynamical eouival-ent of head is given to the fluid stream flowingthrough the guide vanes and the impeller.

1'7. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of shipsand other vessels by the reaction edect of water jets, the combinationOf a pump, a discharge passage therefrom having an enlarged outlet endopening through the wall of the vessel, a valve rotataloly disposed inthe enlarged end of the discharge passage and having a curved outletpassage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximatelyhorizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, and a number ofcurved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one anotherwithin the outlet passage in the lllS .llll

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valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shape and thicknessof the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase invelocity with a minimum loss of head to the discharge stream flowingbetween them, the axial flow pump comprising a rotary impeller, a shroudmounted on the tips otthe blades of the impeller, two fixed shroudlngrings disposed one on either side of the impeller shroud, and fixedguide vanes mounted Within each shrouding ring, the shape of the partsof the Whole pump being such that a uniform progressive increase in thedynamical equivalent of head is given to the fluid stream flowingthrough the guide vanes and the impeller.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification.

JAMES HERBERT WAINWRIGHT GILL.

